The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, we are not against education reform or modernization. Reforms must fit our country and culture and align with global job markets—but you cannot cut and paste another country’s model. Accountability is lacking. Most committees are appointed by the subject Minister—the Prime Minister. If the committee she appointed erred, she must own it. Admitting error while asking who printed or inserted links is like the mason who wore the new cloth under his sarong and used the old rag for thatching—then asked who made him wear it.

¶ 02 Similarly, a tourism board head wrote about LGBTQ matters and the Government’s stance is unclear; disaster management regulations and a Grade 6 book also reflect this. Across three ministries, can these be “accidents”? Reform education to suit modernity—but in a way that fits our culture and country, not a party’s preference. We must also discuss the 323 containers before debating Import and Export (Control) Regulations. A Select Committee was appointed, chaired by the Government’s Justice Minister, with the Police and Ports Ministers on it. We said it would not meet—and to date it has not met even once. When will we probe the release of two narcotics containers reportedly detected by PNB and Customs? Names of those who removed them are still unknown.

¶ 03 We ask the Government to activate the Select Committee on the 323 containers. Society now fears that the Government wants to appoint a “convenient” Auditor-General because the report on those containers called for an audit; yet no audit has commenced. You failed to fulfil election promises; now there are coal quality issues too. The 323-containers issue and the drug containers are being buried; illegal logging and wildlife violations by your associates go unchecked while ordinary villagers are jailed for minor infractions. Also, in Galle District Development Committees, Opposition MPs are excluded—please ensure we are included.